Educational Leadership Research Area
Dr. Marcia Baldanza’s major research interests include: (1) Identifying the intersections of moral and ethical behaviors in leaders and understanding these in VUCA decisions or situations (2) Improving, increasing, and enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in higher education, leadership, and K-12 teaching (3) Building and maintaining strong online cultures to enhance the graduate experience (4) How three new tenure track faculty in the School of Education support each other through the first years using a critical friend’s model.
Dr. Ruth Boyd collaborates with colleagues in the School of Education to study evidence of applied practitioner research by Ed.D. candidates. Other research interests include aligning program objectives with the guiding principles of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) and infusing high impact practices, such as service-learning, into co-curricular instruction.
Dr. Jen Crystle research interests primarily focus on global leadership, higher education internationalization, and high impact practices. Previous research included analysis of internationalization policy in Australia and the United States, as well as the impact of experiential learning programs on student development. Dr. Crystle is also interested in curriculum development, student mentorship, and how to best support students as scholar practitioners. She has presented her research at national and international conferences and has served as a reviewer for the Impacting Education Journal, CPED’s peer-reviewed academic journal.
Dr. Clara Hauth research focus is in four main areas: (a) educational leadership and organizational innovation, with projects investigating current leadership principles (b) experiential learning practices to prepare teachers for a career as special educators, (c) high impact and evidence based interventions regarding literacy skills (i.e., writing, reading, and math) of students with high-incidence disabilities, and (d) contributing to the research base on interprofessional learning(IPE), with culturally responsive/international educational practices both here and abroad. She works with k-12 schools in Panama and Columbia on teacher education research to support ALL learners.
Dr. Jessica Marotta is researching and revising curriculum with faculty and student input within the EdD program. This program is uniquely designed for scholarly practitioners who want to make a difference in their current professions by learning current, applicable, and meaningful leadership strategies. Our EdD program is grounded in the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate’s (CPED) guiding principles and Dr. Marotta’s research examines how to better integrate these principles throughout the EdD program, the student learning outcomes, and their Dissertation in Practice. An additional aspect is creating activities to help students meet their research goals by the end of the program.
Dr.Shannon Melideo has several scholarship projects that are in active draft to include: 1) the results of an ESSER grant-funded after-school program, 2) a joint manuscript of LDFM perspectives of a doctoral student acquisition of CPED principles, 3) elementary school curriculum analysis, 4) preparation of new pediatricians as family/school partners for diagnosing children with special needs, and 5) continued impacts of Marymount-supported teacher training in Ugandan schools.
Sr. Mary Patricia Earl’s research focuses mainly on Catholic school leadership, preparing people to be leaders in Catholic education with a focus not only on the instructional and managerial roles of Catholic school leaders but also on the spiritual role that is fundamental to the vision and mission of Catholic education. Areas of specific interest include Catholic Identity, personal spirituality, and developing a deeper relationship with Christ so that leaders can not only form their students in the faith but also their faculty and other members of the Catholic school community.
Dr. Lisa Turissini’s research focus is on: (1) peer coaching in the professoriate; (2) educational leadership with projects investigating current leadership practices in mentoring faculty/students; (3) high impact and evidence-based strategies to increase student engagement especially in online programs. Dr. Turissini serves as a CAEP site visitor, and reviewer for a number of peer-reviewed academic journals. Other areas of specific interest include assessment/accreditation, teacher preparation, and the scholarship of teaching and learning.
